Information processing system, information processing apparatus, data acquisition method, and program

ABSTRACT

An information processing system includes a first apparatus information acquiring unit acquiring apparatus information of an electronic apparatus, an output request unit sending an output request to the information processing apparatus by using the apparatus information, a memory unit storing a storing destination of the electronic data output by the electronic apparatus and identification information of the electronic apparatus while associating these upon receipt of the output request, an acquisition request processing unit sending to a second terminal apparatus the electronic data based on the storing destination stored in the memory unit in association with the identification information in a case where an acquisition request is received, a second apparatus information acquiring unit acquiring the apparatus information, and an acquisition request unit sending the acquisition request for the electronic data to the information processing apparatus and acquires the electronic data based on the apparatus information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing system, aninformation processing apparatus, a data acquisition method, and aprogram.

2. Description of the Related Art

An example of a projector network system is formed by connectingmultiple terminal apparatuses and a projector so as to share an imagedata file held by the terminal apparatus (for example, Patent Document1).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-208823

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For example, a user controls an electronic apparatus such as a printer,a multifunction peripheral, or a projector connected to a network suchas a LAN using various terminal apparatuses such as a mobile phone, asmartphone, or a tablet terminal to cause the electronic apparatus tooutput a file.

A third party other than the user who controls to cause the electronicapparatus to output the file using the terminal apparatus may wish toacquire the file output to the electronic apparatus and store into aterminal apparatus of the third party. However, the third party cannoteasily acquire the file output to the electronic apparatus.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention toprovide an information processing system, an information processingapparatus, a data acquisition method, and a program, with which dataoutput by an electronic apparatus can be easily acquired by an terminalapparatus.

One aspect of the embodiments of the present invention may be to providean information processing system including a plurality of terminalapparatuses; and at least one information processing apparatus connectedto the plurality of terminal apparatuses, wherein a first terminalapparatus, which is one of the plurality of terminal apparatuses,includes a first apparatus information acquiring unit which acquiresapparatus information of one electronic apparatus, which is one of aplurality of electronic apparatuses, from an apparatus informationmemory device storing the apparatus information of the one electronicapparatus, and an output request unit which sends an output request thatthe one electronic apparatus outputs electronic data to the at least oneinformation processing apparatus by using the apparatus information ofthe one electronic apparatus, wherein the at least one informationprocessing apparatus includes a request reception unit which receivesthe output request that the one electronic apparatus outputs theelectronic data, a memory unit which stores a storing destination of theelectronic data to be output by the one electronic apparatus andidentification information of the one electronic apparatus whileassociating the storing destination and the identification informationin response to the output request received by the request receptionunit, an output request processing unit which requests the oneelectronic apparatus to output the electronic data upon receipt of theoutput request that the one electronic apparatus outputs the electronicdata, and an acquisition request processing unit which sends to a secondterminal apparatus, which is another one of the plurality of terminalapparatuses, the electronic data output by the one electronic apparatusbased on the storing destination of the electronic data stored in thememory unit in association with the identification information of theone electronic apparatus in a case where an acquisition request toacquire the electronic data output by the one electronic apparatus isreceived from the second terminal apparatus, wherein the second terminalapparatus includes a second apparatus information acquiring unit whichacquires the apparatus information of the one electronic apparatus fromthe apparatus information memory device, and an acquisition request unitwhich sends the acquisition request for the electronic data output bythe one electronic apparatus to the at least one information processingapparatus and acquires the electronic data output by the one electronicapparatus from the at least one information processing apparatus basedon the apparatus information of the one electronic apparatus.

Additional objects and advantages of the embodiments will be set forthin part in the description which follows, and in part will be clear fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Objectsand advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by meansof the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary structure of a collaboration processingsystem of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary hardware structure of a computer of theembodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary hardware structure of a terminalapparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary hardware structure of a projector of theembodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary processing block chart of a smartphone of theembodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary processing block chart of the informationaccumulating apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary processing block chart of the projector of theembodiment.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary block chart for explaining a procedure ofacquiring apparatus information.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary structure of apparatus informationstored by a short-range wireless apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a sequence chart of an exemplary process of projecting a fileand acquiring an original in a collaboration processing system of theembodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary structure of apparatus information inwhich original tracking information is registered.

FIG. 12 illustrates a structure of exemplary request information.

FIG. 13 illustrates an image of an exemplary UI receiving an acquisitionof an original from a user.

FIG. 14 illustrates an image of an exemplary UI receiving a selection ofthe projector from the user.

FIG. 15 is another exemplary processing block chart of the projector ofthe embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates another exemplary structure of the apparatusinformation stored by the short-range wireless apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a sequence chart of another exemplary process of projectingthe file and acquiring the original in the collaboration processingsystem of the embodiment.

FIG. 18 illustrates another exemplary structure of the apparatusinformation in which the original tracking information is registered.

FIG. 19 is a sequence chart of an exemplary process of projecting thefile and printing the file in the collaboration processing system of theembodiment.

FIG. 20 illustrates an image of an exemplary UI receiving a selection ofthe file output from the user.

FIG. 21 illustrates an image of an exemplary UI receiving a printrequest, the acquisition of the original, and a display from the user.

FIG. 22 illustrates another exemplary structure of the collaborationprocessing system of the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a sequence chart of another exemplary process of projectingthe file and acquiring the original in the collaboration processingsystem of the embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a sequence chart of another exemplary process of projectingthe file and acquiring the original in the collaboration processingsystem of the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description is given below, with reference to the FIG. 1 through FIG.24 of embodiments of the present invention. Where the same referencesymbols are attached to the same parts, repeated description of theparts is omitted.

Reference symbols typically designate as follows:

-   1: collaboration processing system;-   10: information accumulating apparatus;-   11, 11 a, 11 b: smartphone;-   12, 12A, 12B: projector;-   13A, 13B: interactive whiteboard (IWB);-   14A, 14B: multifunction peripheral (MFP);-   16A, 16B, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B: short-range wireless apparatus;-   19: relay server;-   21: display unit;-   22: input unit;-   23: wireless communication unit;-   24: short-range wireless communication unit;-   25: data sending unit;-   26: data receiving unit;-   27: apparatus information acquiring unit;-   28: memory unit;-   29: output request unit;-   30: original acquisition requesting unit-   41: input unit;-   42: communication unit;-   43: data sending unit;-   44: data receiving unit;-   45: file administration unit;-   46: request inquiry unit;-   47: request reception unit;-   48: request processing unit;-   49: memory unit;-   50: request sending unit;-   61: wireless communication unit;-   62: short-range wireless communication unit;-   63: data sending unit;-   64: data receiving unit;-   65: image output unit;-   66: request reception unit;-   67: request processing unit;-   68: short-range wireless communication information administration    unit;-   69: memory unit;-   70: guest ID generating unit;-   500: computer;-   501: input apparatus;-   502: display apparatus;-   503: external I/F;-   503 a: recording medium;-   504: RAM;-   505: ROM;-   506: CPU;-   507: communication I/F;-   508: HDD;-   600: terminal apparatus;-   601: CPU;-   602: ROM;-   603: RAM;-   604: EEPROM;-   605: CMOS sensor;-   606: acceleration and direction sensor;-   607: record media;-   608: media drive;-   609: audio input unit;-   610: audio output unit;-   611: antenna;-   612: communication unit;-   613: wireless LAN communication unit;-   614: short-range wireless communication antenna;-   615: short-range wireless communication unit;-   616: display;-   617: touch panel;-   618: battery;-   619: bus line;-   701: CPU;-   702: RAM;-   703: ROM;-   704: communication unit;-   705: antenna;-   706: operation keys;-   707: short-range wireless communication unit;-   708: short-range wireless communication antenna;-   709: projection device;-   710: bus line;-   B: bus; and-   N1-N3: network.

A collaboration processing system 1 of the embodiment is an example ofan information processing system.

First Embodiment System Structure

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary structure of a collaboration processingsystem of the first embodiment. An exemplary structure of thecollaboration processing system 1 includes an information accumulatingapparatus 10, smartphones 11 a and 11 b, projectors 12A and 12B,interactive whiteboards (IWB) 13A and 13B, multifunction peripherals(MFP) 14A and 14B, and a relay server 19.

The short-range wireless apparatuses 16A, 17A, and 18A are built in orprovided in the projector 12A, the IWB 13A, and the MFP 14A,respectively. The short-range wireless apparatuses 16B, 17B, and 18B arebuilt in or provided in the projector 12B, the IWB 13B, and the MFP 14B,respectively.

In a case where any one of the short-range wireless apparatuses 16A and16B may be designated, it is called a short-range wireless apparatus 16.In a case where any one of the short-range wireless apparatuses 17A and17B may be designated, it is called a short-range wireless apparatus 17.In a case where any one of the short-range wireless apparatuses 18A and18B may be designated, it is called a short-range wireless apparatus 18.

The collaboration processing system 1 is formed by connecting theinformation accumulating apparatus 10, the projectors 12A and 12B, theIWBs 13A and 13B, and the MFPs 14A and 14B to a network N3 such as aLAN. Further, in the collaboration processing system 1, the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 is connectable to a network N2 such as theInternet.

In the collaboration processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, theprojector 12A, the IWB 13A, and the MFP 14A are installed in a meetingroom A, and the projector 12B, the IWB 13B, and the MFP 14B areinstalled in a meeting room B. In the collaboration processing system 1illustrated in FIG. 1, the information accumulating apparatus 10 isinstalled other than the meeting rooms A and B. However, the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 may be installed in the meeting room A or B.

Further, in the collaboration processing system 1, a relay server 19exists in the network N2 such as the Internet. Further, in thecollaboration processing system 1, the smartphones 11 a and 11 bconnectable to the network N1 such as the phone line exist. Thesmartphones 11 a and 11 b are connectable to the relay server 19existing in the network using the network N1. Further, the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 is connectable to the relay server 19 existingin the network N2.

For example, a phone line such as a 3G network can be used as thenetwork N1. An intranet in a private environment such as an intercompanynetwork can be used as the network N3. The relay server 19 existing inthe network N2 can be omitted in a case where the smartphones 11 a and11 b are directly connected to the information accumulating apparatus 10through the networks N1 and N2.

The information accumulating apparatus 10 is an example of aninformation processing apparatus having an information sharing function.The information accumulating apparatus 10 performs a highly functionalprocess which cannot be performed by the smartphones 11 a and 11 b, aprocess as a file server, and a process of acquiring a request from thesmartphone 11 a or 11 b by connecting the information accumulatingapparatus 10 to the relay server 19. Further, function of theinformation accumulating apparatus 10 may be distributed to multiplecomputers.

The smartphones 11 a and 11 b are an exemplary terminal apparatusoperated by the user. The terminal apparatus may be the smartphones 11 aand 11 b, a mobile phone, a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, or the like,which can be operated by the user.

The projectors 12A and 12B, the IWBs 13A and 13B, and the MFPs 14A and14B are examples of the electronic apparatus which is controlled by thesmartphones 11 a and 11 b. The projectors 12A and 12B, the IWBs 13A and13B, and the MFPs 14A and 14B provides an interface (IF) in the networkN3.

The projectors 12A and 12B are examples of an image projection device.In a case where any one of the projectors 12A and 12B may be designated,it is called a projector 12. The projector 12 has a projection functionand the communication function.

The IWBs 13A and 13B are examples of an image display apparatus. In acase where any one of the IWBs 13A and 13B may be designated, it iscalled an IWB 13. The IWB 13 has a display function and a communicationfunction. The MFPs 14A and 14B are examples of the image formingapparatus. In a case where any one of the MFPs 14A and 14B may bedesignated, it is called a MFP 14. The MFP 14 has an image capturingfunction, an image forming function, and a communication function andcan be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, and a copier.

The short-range wireless apparatuses 16, 17, and 18 uses near-fieldwireless communication such as Bluetooth (“Bluetooth” is a registeredtrademark) and a near field communication (NFC) and provides apparatusinformation described later to the smartphone 11 a or 11 b.

In the collaboration processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, thesmartphone 11 a and 11 b exist in the meeting room A. In a case whereany one of the smartphones 11 a and 11 b may be designated, it is calleda smartphone 11. The smartphone 11 existing in the collaborationprocessing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 acquires the apparatusinformation described below from the short-range wireless apparatuses16A, 17A, and 18A.

<Hardware Structure> <<Computer>>

The information accumulating apparatus 10 and the relay server 19 aresubstantialized by a computer having a hardware structure as illustratedin, for example, FIG. 2. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary hardwarestructure of the computer of the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the computer 500 includes an input device 501, adisplay device 502, an external I/F 503, a RAM 504, a ROM 505, a CPU506, a communication I/F 507, a HDD 508, and so on, mutually connectedby a bus B. It is acceptable to provide a structure such that the inputdevice 501 and the display apparatus 502 may be connected to the bus Bwhen necessary.

The input device 501 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and soon, by which the user can input various operation signals. The displaydevice 502 includes a display or the like to display a processing resultobtained by the computer 500.

The communication I/F 507 is an interface provided to connect thecomputer 500 with various networks. Thus, the computer 500 can performdata communications through the communication I/F 507.

The HDD 508 is an exemplary non-volatile memory device that stores aprogram and data. The stored program and data are an operating system(OS), which is basic software controlling the entire computer 500,application software (hereinafter, simply referred to as an“application”) providing various functions in the OS, and so on. Thecomputer 500 may use a drive device using a flash memory (e.g., a solidstate drive (SSD)) as a recording medium in place of the HDD 508.

The external I/F 503 is an interface with an external apparatus. Theexternal apparatus is a recording medium 503 a or the like. With this,the computer 500 can read information from the recording medium 503 aand/or write information to the recording medium 503 a through theexternal I/F 503. The recording medium 503 a is a flexible disk, a CD, aDVD, an SD memory card, a USB memory, or the like.

The ROM 505 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory (a memory device),which can hold a program and/or data even when a power source is poweredoff. The ROM 505 stores programs and data for a basic input/outputsystem (BIOS), an OS setup, a network setup, and so on, which areexecuted at a time of booting up the computer 500. The RAM 504 is anexample of a volatile semiconductor memory (a memory device) temporarilystoring the program and/or the data.

The CPU 506 reads the program and/or the data from the memory devicesuch as the ROM 505, the HDD 508, or the like. The read program or theread data undergo a process so as to substantialize a control or afunction of the entire computer 500.

The information accumulating apparatus 10 and the relay server 19 aresubstantialized by a computer having a hardware structure as illustratedin, for example, FIG. 2.

<<Terminal Apparatus>>

For example, the smartphone 11 is substantialized by a hardwarestructure illustrated in, for example, FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates anexemplary hardware structure of the terminal apparatus of theembodiment. The terminal apparatus 600 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes aCPU 601, a ROM 602, a RAM 603, an EEPROM 604, a CMOS sensor 605, anacceleration and direction sensor 606, and a media drive 608.

The CPU 601 controls the entire operation of the terminal apparatus 600.The ROM 602 stores a basic input and output program. The RAM 603 is usedas a work area of the CPU 601. The EEPROM 604 reads or writes data inconformity with a control of the CPU 601. The CMOS sensor 605 capturesimage data in conformity with the control of the CPU 601 to acquireimage data. The acceleration and direction sensor 606 is anelectromagnetic compass that detects earth magnetism, a gyrocompass, anacceleration sensor, or the like.

The media drive 608 controls read or write (store) of data from or to arecord media 607 such as a flash memory. Data already recorded in therecord media 607 are read out or new data are written in the recordmedia 607. The record media 607 is freely attachable to or detachablefrom the media drive 608.

The EEPROM 604 stores an operating system (OS) executed by the CPU 601,association information necessary for a network setup, or the like. Anapplication for performing various processes in the first embodiment isstored in the EEPROM 604, the record media 607, or the like.

The CMOS sensor 605 is a charge-coupled device that converts light toelectric charges and digitizes an image of an object. The CMOS sensor605 may be substituted by, for example, a charge coupled device (CCD)sensor as long as the image of the object can be captured.

Further, the terminal apparatus 600 includes an audio input unit 609, anaudio output unit 610, an antenna 611, a communication unit 612, awireless LAN communication unit 613, a short-range wirelesscommunication antenna 614, a short-range wireless communication unit615, a display 616, a touch panel 617, and a bus line 619.

The audio input unit 609 converts a sound to an audio signal. The audiooutput unit 610 converts the audio signal to the sound. Thecommunication unit 612 uses the antenna 611 to communicate with thenearest base station apparatus by a wireless communication signal. Thewireless LAN communication unit 613 performs a wireless LANcommunication with an access point in conformity with the standard IEEE80411. The short-range wireless communication unit 615 performsshort-range wireless communication using the short-range wirelesscommunication antenna 614.

The display 616 is provided to display the image of the object, variousicons, or the like. The display 616 is made of a liquid crystal, anorganic EL, or the like. The touch panel 617 is mounted on the display616 and is formed of a panel of a pressure sensitive type or a statictype. A touch position on the display 616 is detected by a touch of afinger or a touch pen. The bus line 619 is an address bus, a data bus,or the like for electrically connecting the above units and parts.

The terminal apparatus 600 includes a battery 618 for a dedicated use.The terminal apparatus 600 is driven by the battery 618. The audio inputunit 609 includes a microphone for inputting the sound. The audio outputunit 610 includes a speaker for outputting the sound.

The smartphone 11 can substantialize various processes described belowwith a hardware structure of the terminal apparatus 600 illustrated in,for example, FIG. 3.

<<Projector>>

The hardware structure of the projector 12 is described as an exemplaryhardware structure of the electronic apparatus. The projector 12 issubstantialized by a computer having the hardware structure asillustrated in, for example, FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplaryhardware structure of the projector of the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the projector 12 includes a CPU 701, a RAM 702, aROM 703, a communication unit 704, an antenna 705, operation keys 706, ashort-range wireless communication unit 707, a short-range wirelesscommunication antenna 707, a projection device 709, and a bus line 710.

The CPU 701 controls operations of the entire projector 12. The RAM 702is used as a work area of the CPU 701. The ROM 703 stores a basic inputand output program.

The communication unit 704 uses the antenna 705 to communicate with thenearest base station apparatus or the nearest access point by a wirelesscommunication signal. The communication unit 704 may perform datacommunications with the network N3 by a wired communication signal. Theoperation keys 706 is a hard key or the like provided to the projector12. The short-range wireless communication unit 707 performs short-rangewireless communication using the short-range wireless communicationantenna 708. The projection device 709 projects (outputs) an outputtarget file whose output request is received.

<Software Structure> <<Smartphone>>

The smartphone 11 of the first embodiment is substantialized by theprocessing block illustrated in, for example, FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is anexemplary processing block chart of the smartphone of the embodiment.The smartphone 11 substantializes a display unit 21, an input unit 22, awireless communication unit 23, a short-range wireless communicationunit 24, a data sending unit 25, a data receiving unit 26, an apparatusinformation acquiring unit 27, a memory unit 28, an output request unit29, an original acquisition requesting unit 30 by installing a programand running the program.

The display unit 21 controls a screen displayed on the display 616. Theinput unit 22 receives an operation of inputting into the touch panel617 by the user. The wireless communication unit 23 performs wirelesscommunication using the communication unit 612 and the wireless LANcommunication unit 613. The short-range wireless communication unit 24performs short-range wireless communication using the short-rangewireless communication unit 615.

The data sending unit 25 sends data (a file) using wirelesscommunication. The data receiving unit 26 receives data (a file) usingthe wireless communication. The apparatus information acquiring unit 27uses the short-range wireless communication unit 24 and acquires theapparatus information (described later) from the short-range wirelessapparatus 16, 17, or 18. The memory unit 28 stores the acquiredapparatus information described below.

The output request unit 29 uses the apparatus information (describedbelow) and sends a file output request (a request) requesting theelectronic apparatus such as the projector 12 to output the file to theinformation accumulating apparatus 10 through the relay server 19. Theoriginal acquisition requesting unit 30 uses the apparatus information(described below) and sends a request to acquire an original of a filecurrently being output by the electronic apparatus such as the projector12 to the information accumulating apparatus 10 through the relay server19. The request to acquire the original is a request to acquire a file(the original) having an original data form before converting to a dataform enabled to be output by the electronic apparatus.

<<Information Accumulating Apparatus>>

The information accumulating apparatus 10 of the first embodiment issubstantialized by a processing block chart illustrated in, for example,FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is an exemplary processing block chart of the informationaccumulating apparatus of the first embodiment. The informationaccumulating apparatus 10 substantializes an input unit 41, acommunication unit 42, a data sending unit 43, a data receiving unit, afile administration unit 45, a request inquiry unit 46, a requestreception unit 47, a request processing unit 48, a memory unit 49, arequest sending unit 50 by running a program.

The input unit 41 receives an input operation of inputting into theinput device 501 by the user. The communication unit 42 performscommunications through the communication I/F 507. The data sending unit43 sends data (a file) using the communication. The data receiving unit44 receives data using the communication. The file administration unit45 administers a shared folder unveiled on the networks N2 and N3 usinga server message block (SMB) protocol and converts the data form of thefile (the file conversion) when necessary. The file administration unit45 can store the file in association with the apparatus informationdescribed later. The file of the first embodiment is one mode of thedata.

The request inquiry unit 46 inquires of the relay server 19 whetherthere is a request to the request inquiry unit 46. The request receptionunit 47 performs a process of receiving a request (an HTTP request) ofthe smart phone 11 from the relay server 19. The request processing unit48 performs a process corresponding the received request (the HTTPrequest) received from the smartphone 11. The memory unit 49 stores theshared folder. The request sending unit 50 performs a process of sendinga request to the electronic apparatus such as the projector 12.

<<Projector>>

The projector 12 of the first embodiment is substantialized by aprocessing block illustrated in, for example, FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is anexemplary processing block chart of the projector of the firstembodiment. The projector 12 substantializes a wireless communicationunit 61, a short-range wireless communication unit 62, a data sendingunit 63, a data receiving unit 64, an image output unit 65, a requestreception unit 66, a request processing unit 67, a short-range wirelesscommunication information administration unit 68, and a memory unit 69by running a program.

The wireless communication unit 61 performs the wireless communicationusing the communication unit 704. The short-range wireless communicationunit 62 performs short-range wireless communication using theshort-range wireless communication unit 707. The data sending unit 63sends data (a file) using the wireless communication. The data receivingunit 64 receives data (the file) using the wireless communication.

The image output unit 65 performs an image output (projection) of thereceived data (the file). The request reception unit 66 performs aprocess of receiving a request of the smart phone 11 from theinformation accumulating apparatus 10. The request processing unit 67performs a process corresponding to the received request. Theshort-range wireless communication information administration unit 68administers the apparatus information described later.

The apparatus information administered by the short-range wirelesscommunication information administration unit 68 includes connectioninformation such as the MAC address and the IP address of the projector12 and original tracking information of a file currently being output bythe projector 12. The memory unit 69 stores the apparatus information.

<Detailed Process>

Hereinafter, a detailed process of the collaboration processing system 1of the first embodiment is described.

<<Acquisition of Apparatus Information>>

In the collaboration processing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, thesmartphone 11 acquires the apparatus information as illustrated in, forexample, FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is an exemplary block chart for explaining aprocedure of acquiring the apparatus information. In the collaborationprocessing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, short-range wirelessapparatuses 16A to 18A are installed in a projector 12A, an IWB 13A, anda MFP 14A, which are installed in the meeting room A, respectively. Theshort-range wireless apparatus 16A stores the apparatus informationillustrated in, for example, FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary structure of the apparatus informationstored by the short-range radio apparatus. The apparatus informationillustrated in FIG. 9 is exemplary apparatus information of theprojector 12A installed in the meeting room A. The apparatus informationof the projector 12A illustrated in FIG. 9 includes the connectioninformation of the projector 12A and the original tracking informationof the file currently being output by the projector 12.

Referring to FIG. 9, an IP address, a host name, a MAC address, anapparatus type, a meeting room, and an apparatus ID are illustrated asexemplary connection information of the projector 12A. The connectioninformation of the projector 12A includes information for identifyingthe projector 12A, information for connecting to the projector 12A, andinformation for identifying the meeting room.

Referring to FIG. 9, the IP address, the host name, the MAC address, theapparatus type, the meeting room, and a file path are illustrated asexemplary original tracking information of the file currently beingoutput by the projector 12. The original tracking information of thefile currently being output by the projector 12 includes the connectioninformation of the information accumulating apparatus 10 which storesthe original of the file currently being output by the projector 12 anda file path of the original of the file currently being output by theprojector 12.

Referring to FIG. 9, the IP address, the host name, the MAC address, theapparatus type, and the meeting room are illustrated as exemplaryconnection information of the information accumulating apparatus 10. Theconnection information of the information accumulating apparatus 10includes information for identifying the information accumulatingapparatus 10, information for connecting the information accumulatingapparatus 10, and information for identifying the meeting room. BecauseFIG. 9 illustrates a state before storing the original of the file inthe information accumulating apparatus 10, a column indicating theoriginal tracking information is blank.

The smartphone 11 can acquire the apparatus information of the projector12A illustrated in FIG. 9 from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A asillustrated in FIG. 9 by requesting the short-range wireless apparatus16A to send the apparatus information.

Similarly, the smartphone 11 can acquire the apparatus information ofthe IWB 13A and the MFP 14A from the short-range wireless apparatus 16Aby requesting the short-range wireless apparatus 16A to send theapparatus information. The apparatus information of the IWB 13A and theMFP 14A is omitted from illustration.

As described, in the collaboration processing system 1 of the firstembodiment, the apparatus information can be acquired from theshort-range wireless apparatuses 16 to 18. Therefore, it is possible topermit a control of the electronic apparatus using the smartphone 11 ina limited space such as the meeting room.

Further, in the collaboration processing system 1 of the firstembodiment, the apparatus information can be acquired from theshort-range wireless apparatuses 16 to 18. Therefore, it is possible toprevent a user from spending a labor of inputting the apparatusinformation into the smartphone.

<<Output of File and Acquisition of Original>>

Hereinafter, described is a process where the smartphone 11 b acquiresthe original of the file currently being output by the projector 12Aupon a request of the smartphone 11 a. However, the original of the filecurrently being output may be output from the electronic apparatus otherthan the projector 12A.

FIG. 10 is a sequence chart of an exemplary process of projecting thefile and acquiring the original in the collaborate processing system ofthe embodiment. Referring to FIG. 10, the smartphone 11 a is operated bythe user A and the smartphone 11 b is operated by the user B.

In step S1, the apparatus information acquiring unit 27 of thesmartphone 11 a acquires the apparatus information of the projector 12Aillustrated in FIG. 9 from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A. Instep S2, the memory unit 28 of the smartphone 11 a stores (registers)the apparatus information of the projector 12A acquired by the apparatusinformation acquiring unit 27.

In step S3, the input unit 22 of the smartphone 11 a receives an inputoperation for projecting the file from the user A. In steps S4 and S5,the data sending unit 25 of the smartphone 11 a uploads the file to beprojected along with the apparatus ID of the projector 12A read out ofthe apparatus information of the projector 12A to the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 through the relay server 19. Here, theregistration (pairing) of the smartphone 11 a into, for example, theinformation accumulating apparatus 10 ends and the smartphone 11 aalready acquires the connection information for connecting theinformation accumulating apparatus 10.

The upload process in step S5 may be performed as described below. Theinformation accumulating apparatus 10 inquires of the relay server 19whether there is the request to the information accumulating apparatus10. The information accumulating apparatus 10 receives the request (forthe apparatus ID of the projector 12A and the file to be projecteddescribed above) sent in response to the inquiry from the relay server19 through the relay server 19. With this structure, even in a casewhere the smartphone 11 a and the information accumulating apparatus 10are connected to different networks and the intranet connected to theinformation accumulating apparatus 10 is protected by a firewall, it ispossible to receive the request, the data, and the information sent fromthe smartphone 11 a by the information accumulating apparatus 10.

In step S6, the file administration unit 45 of the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 stores the file to be projected in associationwith the apparatus ID of the projector 12A. In step S7, the requestprocessing unit 48 of the information accumulating apparatus 10 requeststo register the original tracking information including the stored filepath to be projected.

In step S8, the short-range wireless communication informationadministration unit 68 of the projector 12A registers the originaltracking information including the file path of the file to be projectedas illustrated in FIG. 11 in the apparatus information of the projector12A illustrated in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary structure ofthe apparatus information in which the original tracking information isregistered. Thus, using the apparatus information of the projector 12Aillustrated in FIG. 11, the projector 12A can provide the originaltracking information being projected by the projector 12A to thesmartphone 11 b or the like from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A.

In steps S9 and S10, the output request unit 29 of the smartphone 11 auses the apparatus information of the projector 12A illustrated in FIG.9 to send a file output request for the projector 12A through the relayserver 19 to the information accumulating apparatus 10. In step S11, thefile administration unit 45 of the information accumulating apparatus 10converts a data form of the file to be projected to a data form capableof being projected by the projector 12A. The conversion of the data formof the file to be projected in step S11 is performed when necessary.

In step S12, the request sending unit 50 of the information accumulatingapparatus 10 sends a file output request of outputting the file to beprojected to the projector 12A. In step S13, the image output unit 65 ofthe projector 12A projects the file to be projected in response to thefile output request received from the information accumulating apparatus10.

The request processing unit 48 of the information accumulating apparatus10 may cause the memory unit 49 to store request information asillustrated in FIG. 12 so as to administer an output request requestedfrom the smartphone 11 a or the like. FIG. 12 illustrates a structure ofexemplary request information. The request information illustrated inFIG. 12 includes data items such as a request destination, an outputstart time, an output end time, an output file, a request source, and soon. By the request information illustrated in FIG. 12, the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 can administers the request source, therequest destination, the output file, and so on of the file outputrequest.

In step S14, the apparatus information acquiring unit 27 of thesmartphone 11 b acquires the apparatus information of the projector 12Aillustrated in FIG. 11 from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A. Instep S15, the memory unit 28 of the smartphone 11 b stores (registers)the apparatus information of the projector 12A acquired by the apparatusinformation acquiring unit 27. Thus, the smartphone 11 b can acquire theoriginal tracking information of the file currently being projected bythe projector 12A from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A.

In step S16, the display unit 21 of the smartphone 11 b displays a userinterface (UI) as illustrated in FIG. 13 on the display 616 and receivesan input operation for acquiring the original operated by the user Bfrom the touch panel 617.

FIG. 13 illustrates an image of an exemplary UI receiving an acquisitionof the original from the user. On the UI 1000 illustrated in FIG. 13, abutton 1001 for selecting the acquisition of the original is provided.When the user B pushes the button 1001 for the acquisition of theoriginal, the user can perform an input operation for the acquisition ofthe original.

In a case where the apparatus information of multiple projectors isstored in the memory unit 28, the smartphone 11 b may display the UI1010 illustrated in FIG. 14 on the display 616 so as to receive theinput operation of selecting the projector from the user B. FIG. 14illustrates the image of the exemplary UI receiving the selection of theprojector from the user. Referring to FIG. 14, the UI 1010 displays theapparatus type of the electronic apparatus so as to enable the projector12, from which the original of the currently projected file is acquired,to be selected. However, a thumbnail image may be acquired using thefile path of the original tracking information and the acquiredthumbnail image may be additionally displayed on the UI 1010, forexample.

The original acquisition requesting unit 30 of the smartphone 11 b readsthe original tracking information out of the apparatus information ofthe projector 12A illustrated in FIG. 11 and stored in the memory unit28. In steps S17 and S18, the original acquisition requesting unit 30uses the original tracking information and requests to download the filecurrently being output by the projector 12A along with the apparatus IDof the projector 12A read out of the apparatus information of theprojector 12A.

The data sending unit 43 of the information accumulating apparatus 10receiving the file download request from the smartphone 11 b sends theoriginal of the file currently being output by the projector 12A to thesmartphone 11 b. The information accumulating apparatus 10 may improvesecurity by determining whether the download is permitted for thesmartphone 11 b before the projector 12A sends the original of the filecurrently being output by the projector 12A to the smartphone 11 b.

It may be set whether the download of the original of the file currentlybeing output by the projector 12A is permitted for the smartphone 11 bat a time when the user A preforms the input operation for theprojection of the file in, for example, step S3.

The smartphone 11 b, which cannot be connected to the network N3connected to the projector 12A, can easily acquire the original of thefile currently being output by the projector 12A.

In step S19, the input unit 22 of the smartphone 11 a receives an inputoperation for ending the projection of the file from the user A. Insteps S20 and S21, the output request unit 29 of the smartphone 11 auses the apparatus information of the projector 12A illustrated in FIG.9 to send a projection end request for the projector 12A through therelay server 19 to the information accumulating apparatus 10.

In step S22, the request sending unit 50 of the information accumulatingapparatus 10 sends the projection end request to the projector 12A. Instep S23, the file administration unit 45 of the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 deletes the file to be projected stored inassociation with the apparatus ID of the projector 12A in step S6. Instep S24, the short-range wireless communication informationadministration unit 68 of the projector 12A deletes the originaltracking information included in the apparatus information of theprojector 12A.

In a case where a short-range communication between the short-rangewireless communication information administration unit 68 of theprojector 12A and the smartphone 11 a is cut off, original trackinginformation included in the apparatus information of the projector 12Aillustrated in FIG. 11 may be deleted to improve the security.

Second Embodiment

In the collaboration processing system 1 of the second embodiment, aguest ID generating unit 70 is added to the projector 12 and thisprojector 12 is used. In the collaboration processing system 1 of thesecond embodiment, the security can be reinforced by adding a guest IDgenerated by the guest ID generating unit 70 of the projector 12 to theapparatus information of the projector 12. Explanation of a secondembodiment for the same portion as that in the first embodiment isomitted.

FIG. 15 is another exemplary processing block chart of the projector ofthe second embodiment. The projector 12 illustrated FIG. 15 is formed byadding the guest ID generating unit 70 to the structure of the projector12 illustrated in FIG. 7. The guest ID generating unit 70 generates arandom guest ID when the request reception unit 66 receives a requestfor generating a guest ID.

The short-range wireless apparatus 16A of the projector 12A stores theapparatus information illustrated in, for example, FIG. 16. FIG. 16illustrates another exemplary structure of the apparatus informationstored by the short-range radio apparatus. The apparatus informationillustrated in FIG. 16 is formed by adding the guest ID to the apparatusinformation illustrated in FIG. 9. Because FIG. 16 illustrates a statebefore storing the original of the file in the information accumulatingapparatus 10, a column indicating the original tracking information isblank. As illustrated in the apparatus information of FIG. 16, the guestID is included in the original tracking information. Therefore, in thecollaboration processing system 1 of the second embodiment, when theoriginal of the file projected by the projector 12A is acquired, theguest ID generated by the guest ID generating unit 70 of the projector12 is necessary.

Hereinafter, described is a process where the smartphone 11 b acquiresthe original of the file currently being output by the projector 12Aupon a request of the smartphone 11 a. However, the original of the filecurrently being output may be output from the electronic apparatus otherthan the projector 12A.

FIG. 17 is a sequence chart of another exemplary process of projectingthe file and acquiring the original in the collaborate processing systemof the embodiment. Referring to FIG. 17, the smartphone 11 a is operatedby the user A and the smartphone 11 b is operated by the user B.

In step S31, the apparatus information acquiring unit 27 of thesmartphone 11 a acquires the apparatus information of the projector 12Aillustrated in FIG. 16 from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A. Instep S32, the memory unit 28 of the smartphone 11 a stores (registers)the apparatus information of the projector 12A acquired by the apparatusinformation acquiring unit 27.

In step S33, the input unit 22 of the smartphone 11 a receives an inputoperation for projecting the file from the user A. In step S34, theoutput request unit 29 of the smartphone 11 a requests the guest IDgenerating unit 70 of the projector 12A to generate the guest ID. Instep S35, the guest ID generating unit 70 generates the guest ID. Instep S36, the short-range wireless communication unit 62 of theprojector 12A sends the guest ID to the smartphone 11 a.

The data sending unit 25 of the smartphone 11 a reads the apparatus IDof the projector 12A from the apparatus information of the projector12A. In steps S37 and S38, the data sending unit 25 of the smartphone 11a uploads the file to be projected along with the apparatus ID of theprojector 12A and the guest ID through the relay server 19.

In step S39, the file administration unit 45 of the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 stores the file to be projected in associationwith the apparatus ID of the projector 12A and the guest ID. In stepS40, the request processing unit 48 of the information accumulatingapparatus 10 requests to register the original tracking informationincluding the stored file path to be projected and the guest ID.

In step S41, the short-range wireless communication informationadministration unit 68 of the projector 12A registers the originaltracking information including the file path of the file to be projectedand the guest ID in the apparatus information of the projector 12A asillustrated in FIG. 18. FIG. 18 illustrates another exemplary structureof the apparatus information in which the original tracking informationis registered.

Thus, using the apparatus information of the projector 12A illustratedin FIG. 18, the projector 12A can provide the original trackinginformation being projected by the projector 12A to the smartphone 11 bor the like from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A.

In steps S42 and S43, the output request unit 29 of the smartphone 11 auses the apparatus information of the projector 12A illustrated in FIG.16 to send a file output request for the projector 12A through the relayserver 19 to the information accumulating apparatus 10. In step S44, thefile administration unit 45 of the information accumulating apparatus 10converts a data form of the file to be projected to a data form capableof being projected by the projector 12A. The conversion of the data formof the file to be projected in step S44 is performed when necessary.

In step S45, the request sending unit 50 of the information accumulatingapparatus 10 sends a file output request of outputting the file to beprojected to the projector 12A. In step S46, the image output unit 65 ofthe projector 12A projects the file to be projected in response to thefile output request received from the information accumulating apparatus10.

In step S47, the apparatus information acquiring unit 27 of thesmartphone 11 b acquires the apparatus information of the projector 12Aillustrated in FIG. 18 from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A. Instep S48, the memory unit 28 of the smartphone 11 b stores (registers)the apparatus information of the projector 12A acquired by the apparatusinformation acquiring unit 27. Thus, the smartphone 11 b can acquire theoriginal tracking information of the file currently being projected bythe projector 12A from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A.

In step S49, the display unit 21 of the smartphone 11 b displays the UI1000 as illustrated in FIG. 13 on the display 616 and receives an inputoperation for acquiring the original operated by the user B from thetouch panel 617.

The original acquisition requesting unit 30 of the smartphone 11 b readsthe original tracking information out of the apparatus information ofthe projector 12A illustrated in FIG. 18 and stored in the memory unit28. In steps S50 and S51, the original acquisition requesting unit 30uses the original tracking information and requests to download the filecurrently being output by the projector 12A along with the apparatus IDof the projector 12A read out of the apparatus information of theprojector 12A and the guest ID.

The data sending unit 43 of the information accumulating apparatus 10receiving the file download request from the smartphone 11 b sends theoriginal of the file currently being output by the projector 12 a to thesmartphone 11 b.

Therefore, in a case where the smartphone 11 b exists within acommunication range of the short-range wireless apparatus 16A and cannotbe connected to the network N3 connected to the projector 12A, thesmartphone 11 b can easily acquire the original of the file currentlybeing projected by the projector 12A.

In step S52, the input unit 22 of the smartphone 11 a receives an inputoperation for ending the projection from the user A. In steps S53 andS54, the output request unit 29 of the smartphone 11 a uses theapparatus information of the projector 12A illustrated in FIG. 16 tosend a projection end request for the projector 12A through the relayserver 19 to the information accumulating apparatus 10.

In step S55, the request-sending unit 50 of the information accumulatingapparatus 10 sends the projection end request to the projector 12A. Instep S56, the file administration unit 45 of the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 deletes the file to be projected stored inassociation with the apparatus ID of the projector 12A and the guest IDin step S39. In step S57, the short-range wireless communicationinformation administration unit 68 of the projector 12A deletes theoriginal tracking information included in the apparatus information ofthe projector 12A illustrated in FIG. 18.

Third Embodiment

In the collaboration processing system 1 of a third embodiment, the filecurrently being projected by the projector 12A upon a request from thesmartphone 11 a is printed by the MFP 14A upon a request from thesmartphone 11 b. Explanation of the third embodiment for the sameportion as that in the first embodiment is omitted.

FIG. 19 is a sequence chart of an exemplary process of projecting thefile and printing the file in the collaborate processing system of thethird embodiment. Referring to FIG. 10, the smartphone 11 a is operatedby the user A and the smartphone 11 b is operated by the user B.

In step S101, the apparatus information acquiring unit 27 of thesmartphone 11 a acquires the apparatus information of the projector 12Aillustrated in FIG. 9 from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A. Instep S102, the memory unit 28 of the smartphone 11 a stores (registers)the apparatus information of the projector 12A acquired by the apparatusinformation acquiring unit 27.

In step S103, the display unit 21 of the smartphone 11 a displays the UI1100 as illustrated in FIG. 20 on the display 616 and receives an inputoperation from the touch panel 617 by the user A. FIG. 20 illustrates animage of an exemplary UI receiving a selection of the file output fromthe user. The UI 1100 illustrated in FIG. 20 includes a print button forselecting a print operation as the file output, a projector projectionbutton 1101 for selecting a projector projection, and an IWB displaybutton for selecting an IWB display. By pushing the projector projectionbutton 1101, the user A performs an input operation for projecting thefile using the input unit 22.

Because the processes of steps S104 to S113 are similar to the processesof steps S4 to S13 of FIG. 10, explanation is omitted.

In step S114, the apparatus information acquiring unit 27 of thesmartphone 11 b acquires the apparatus information of the projector 12Aillustrated in FIG. 11 from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A. Instep S115, the memory unit 28 of the smartphone 11 b stores (registers)the apparatus information of the projector 12A acquired by the apparatusinformation acquiring unit 27. Thus, the smartphone 11 b can acquire theoriginal tracking information of the file currently being projected bythe projector 12A from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A.

In step S116, the display unit 21 of the smartphone 11 b displays the UI1110 as illustrated in FIG. 21 on the display 616 and receives an inputoperation for printing the file, acquiring the original of the file, anddisplaying the file operated by the user B from the touch panel 617.FIG. 21 illustrates an image of an exemplary UI receiving the print, theacquisition of the original, and the display from the user.

A print button 1111 for selecting the print operation, a button forselecting the acquisition of the original, and a display button 1113 areprovided on the UI 1110 illustrated in FIG. 21. When the user B pushesthe print button 1111, the user B can perform an input operation forcausing the file currently being projected by the projector 12A to beprinted by the MFP 14A. When the user B pushes the button 1112 for theacquisition of the original, the user can perform an input operation foracquiring the original of the file currently being projected by theprojector 12A. When the user B pushes the display button 1113, the userB can perform an input operation for causing the file currently beingprojected by the projector 12A to be displayed by the IWB 13A. Here,described is a case where the user B pushes the print button 1111.

In step S117, the smartphone 11 b may receive an input operation forselecting the MFP 14A from the user B in a case where the apparatusinformation of the multiple MFPs 14 is stored in the memory unit 28.

The original acquisition requesting unit 29 of the smartphone 11 b readsthe original tracking information out of the apparatus information ofthe projector 12A illustrated in FIG. 11 and stored in the memory unit28. In steps S118 and S119, the original acquisition requesting unit 29uses the original tracking information and requests to print the filecurrently being output by the projector 12A along with the apparatus IDof the projector 12A read out of the apparatus information of theprojector 12A.

The data sending unit 43 of the information accumulating apparatus 10receiving the print request from the smartphone 11 b sends the filecurrently being output by the projector 12 a to the MFP 14A. The dataform of the file sent to the MFP 14A is converted to a data form enabledto be printed by the MFP 14A using the file administration unit 45 whennecessary.

In step S121, the MFP 14A prints the file currently being output by theprojector 12 a. The smartphone 11 b, which cannot be connected to thenetwork N3 connected to the projector 12A, can easily print the filecurrently being projected by the projector 12A. Because the processes ofsteps S122 to S127 are similar to the processes of steps S19 to S24 ofFIG. 10, explanation is omitted.

Within the third embodiment, described is the example where the filecurrently being projected by the projector 12A upon the request from thesmartphone 11 a is printed by the MFP 14A upon the request from thesmartphone 11 b. Using a procedure similar thereto, the file currentlybeing output by the projector 12 a upon a request from the smartphone 11a can be printed by the MFP 14A upon a request from the smartphone 11 a.

Fourth Embodiment

The next described embodiment is a case where the smartphone 11 isconnected to an intranet. Within a fourth embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 22, the smartphone 11 a and the smartphone 11 b are connected tothe intranet.

An exemplary process of the fourth embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 23.Referring to FIG. 23, the smartphone 11 a and the smartphone 11 bdirectly communicate with the information accumulating apparatus 10through the intranet. With the fourth embodiment, the abovecollaboration processing system 1 can be substantialized in a case whereit is unnecessary to use the relay server 19.

Fifth Embodiment

The next described embodiment is a case where the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 holds the original tracking information. Anexemplary process of a fifth embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 24.

In step S301, the apparatus information acquiring unit 27 of thesmartphone 11 a acquires the apparatus information of the projector 12Aillustrated in FIG. 9 from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A. Instep S302, the memory unit 28 of the smartphone 11 a stores (registers)the apparatus information of the projector 12A acquired by the apparatusinformation acquiring unit 27. The apparatus information may not bealways acquired from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A and may beacquired by capturing an image in which the apparatus information suchas a QR code (the “QR code” is a registered trademark) is embedded.

In step S303, the input unit 22 of the smartphone 11 a receives an inputoperation for projecting the file from the user A. In step S304, thedata sending unit 25 of the smartphone 11 a uploads the file to beprojected along with the apparatus ID of the projector 12A read out ofthe apparatus information of the projector 12A to the informationaccumulating apparatus 10.

In step S305, the file administration unit 45 of the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 stores the file to be projected in associationwith the apparatus ID of the projector 12A.

In step S306, the file administration unit 45 of the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 registers the original tracking informationincluding the file path of the file to be projected into the apparatusinformation (see FIG. 9) of the projector 12A as illustrated in FIG. 11.Because the file to be projected is stored in association with theapparatus ID in step S305, it is unnecessary to store the originaltracking information (see step S306). This is because the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 can identify the file output by a targetapparatus (the projector 12A) by storing the file to be projected inassociation with the file to be projected.

In step S307, the file administration unit 45 of the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 converts a data form of the file to beprojected to a data form capable of being projected by the projector12A. The conversion of the data form of the file to be projected in stepS11 is performed when necessary. In step S308, the request processingunit 48 of the information accumulating apparatus 10 requests toregister the original tracking information including the stored filepath to be projected. The projector 12A projects the file sent from theinformation accumulating apparatus 10 in response to the receivedrequest.

In step S310, the apparatus information acquiring unit 27 of thesmartphone 11 b acquires the apparatus information of the projector 12Aillustrated in FIG. 9 from the short-range wireless apparatus 16A. Instep S311, the memory unit 28 of the smartphone 11 b stores (registers)the apparatus information of the projector 12A acquired by the apparatusinformation acquiring unit 27.

In step S312, the display unit 21 of the smartphone 11 b displays the UIas illustrated in FIG. 13 on the display 616 and receives an inputoperation for acquiring the original from the touch panel 617 operatedby the user B.

In step S313, the original acquisition requesting unit 30 uses theapparatus information acquired in step S310 and requests to download thefile currently being output by the projector 12A along with theapparatus ID of the projector 12A read out of the apparatus informationof the projector 12A.

The data sending unit 43 of the information accumulating apparatus 10receiving the file download request from the smartphone 11 b uses theoriginal tracking information stored in step S306 and identifies theoriginal of the file currently being output by the projector 12 a (stepS314). Then, the data sending unit 43 of the information accumulatingapparatus 10 converts the identified file so as to be a form enabled tobe displayed by the smartphone 11 b (step S315), and sends the theconverted file to the smartphone 11 b (step S316). In a case where theinformation accumulating apparatus 10 does not store the originaltracking information in step S306, the information accumulatingapparatus 10 may identify the file by using the apparatus ID storedalong with the file in step S305.

In step S318, the input unit 22 of the smartphone 11 a receives an inputoperation for ending the projection from the user A. In step S319, theoutput request unit 29 of the smartphone 11 a uses the apparatusinformation of the projector 12A illustrated in FIG. 9 to send aprojection end request for the projector 12A to the informationaccumulating apparatus 10.

In step S320, the file administration unit 45 of the informationaccumulating apparatus 10 deletes the file to be projected stored inassociation with the apparatus ID of the projector 12A in step S305.Further, in step S321, the file administration unit 45 of theinformation accumulating apparatus 10 deletes the original trackinginformation stored in step S306. In step S322, the request sending unit50 of the information accumulating apparatus 10 sends the projection endrequest to the projector 12A.

With this process, it is possible to acquire the file currently beingoutput even though the projector has not a function of causing theoriginal information to be stored in the projector.

<General Overview>

As described, according to the collaboration processing system 1 of theembodiments, the original of the data currently being output by theelectronic apparatus such as the projector 12 can be easily acquired bythe smartphone 11 which cannot be connected to the network N3 connectedto the electronic apparatus.

Further, according to the collaboration processing system 1 of theembodiments, because the smartphone 11 can acquire the apparatusinformation from the short-range wireless apparatuses 16 to 18 of theelectronic apparatus, it is possible to omit a labor for a user ofinputting the apparatus information into the smartphone 11. Furthermore,according to the collaboration processing system 1 of the embodiments,the security can be improved. This is because if the smartphone 11cannot acquire the apparatus information from the short-range wirelessapparatuses 16 to 18 of the electronic apparatus, it is not possible toacquire the original of the data currently being displayed by theelectronic apparatus, print the data, and display the data.

Furthermore, according to the collaboration processing system 1 of theembodiments, when a user carrying the smartphone approaches the vicinityof the electronic apparatus, the smartphone 11 acquires the apparatusinformation of the electronic apparatus by the short-range wirelesscommunication.

Furthermore, according to the collaboration processing system 1 of theembodiments, the information accumulating apparatus 10 stores theoriginal of the data currently being output by the electronic apparatusbefore the electronic apparatus outputs the data. After the data areoutput to the electronic apparatus, the smartphone 11 acquiring theapparatus information from the electronic apparatus can acquire theoriginal of the data currently being output by the electronic apparatusfrom the information accumulating apparatus 10 by using the apparatusinformation of the electronic apparatus.

The network N1 is an example of a first network recited in the claims.The network N3 is an example of a second network recited in the claims.The smartphone 11 a is an example of a first terminal apparatus recitedin the claims. The smartphone 11 b is an example of a second terminalapparatus recited in the claims. The information accumulating apparatus10 is an example of an information processing apparatus recited in theclaims. The projector 12A is an example of an electronic apparatusrecited in the claims. The collaboration processing system 1 is anexample of an information processing system recited in the claims. Theshort-range wireless apparatus 16A is an example of an apparatusinformation memory device recited in the claims. The guest ID is anexample of identification information necessary for acquiring electronicdata output by the electronic apparatus recited in the claims. Thedownload request of the file currently being output by the projector 12Ais an example of an acquisition request for electronic data recited inthe claims.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principlesof the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor tofurthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitationto such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does theorganization of such examples in the specification relate to a showingof the superiority or inferiority of the invention. Although aninformation processing system has been described in detail, it should beunderstood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations could bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of theprior Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-187361, filed on Sep. 16,2014, and the Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-167412, filed on Aug.27, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing system comprising: aplurality of terminal apparatuses; and at least one informationprocessing apparatus connected to the plurality of terminal apparatuses,wherein a first terminal apparatus, which is one of the plurality ofterminal apparatuses, includes a first apparatus information acquiringunit which acquires apparatus information of one electronic apparatus,which is one of a plurality of electronic apparatuses, from an apparatusinformation memory device storing the apparatus information of the oneelectronic apparatus, and an output request unit which sends an outputrequest that the one electronic apparatus outputs electronic data to theat least one information processing apparatus by using the apparatusinformation of the one electronic apparatus, wherein the at least oneinformation processing apparatus includes a request reception unit whichreceives the output request that the one electronic apparatus outputsthe electronic data, a memory unit which stores a storing destination ofthe electronic data to be output by the one electronic apparatus andidentification information of the one electronic apparatus whileassociating the storing destination and the identification informationin response to the output request received by the request receptionunit, an output request processing unit which requests the oneelectronic apparatus to output the electronic data upon receipt of theoutput request that the one electronic apparatus outputs the electronicdata, and an acquisition request processing unit which sends to a secondterminal apparatus, which is another one of the plurality of terminalapparatuses, the electronic data output by the one electronic apparatusbased on the storing destination of the electronic data stored in thememory unit in association with the identification information of theone electronic apparatus in a case where an acquisition request toacquire the electronic data output by the one electronic apparatus isreceived from the second terminal apparatus, wherein the second terminalapparatus includes a second apparatus information acquiring unit whichacquires the apparatus information of the one electronic apparatus fromthe apparatus information memory device, and an acquisition request unitwhich sends the acquisition request for the electronic data output bythe one electronic apparatus to the at least one information processingapparatus and acquires the electronic data output by the one electronicapparatus from the at least one information processing apparatus basedon the apparatus information of the one electronic apparatus.
 2. Theinformation processing system according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of terminal apparatuses are connected to a first network,wherein the at least one information processing apparatus is connectedto a second network different from the first network, wherein the outputrequest unit of the first terminal apparatus sends the output requestthat the one electronic apparatus outputs the electronic data to the atleast one information processing apparatus through a relay apparatus byusing the apparatus information of the one electronic apparatus, whereinthe request reception unit of the at least one information processingapparatus receives the output request sent from the relay apparatus inresponse to an inquiry sent from the at least one information processingapparatus to the relay apparatus, wherein the acquisition requestprocessing unit of the at least one information processing apparatussends to the second terminal apparatus through the relay apparatus theelectronic data output by the one electronic apparatus based on thestoring destination of the electronic data stored in the memory unit inassociation with the identification information of the one electronicapparatus in a case where the acquisition request sent from the relayapparatus in response to the inquiry sent from the at least oneinformation processing apparatus to the relay apparatus is received,wherein the acquisition request unit of the second terminal apparatussends the acquisition request to the at least one information processingapparatus through the relay apparatus and acquires the electronic datafrom the at least one information processing apparatus through the relayapparatus.
 3. The information processing system according to claim 1,wherein the first apparatus information acquiring unit acquires theapparatus information from the apparatus information memory device usingshort-range wireless communication, wherein the second apparatusinformation acquiring unit acquires the apparatus information andtracking information of the electronic data output by the one electronicapparatus using the short-range wireless communication.
 4. Theinformation processing system according to claim 1, wherein the outputrequest unit of the first terminal apparatus acquires the identificationinformation necessary for acquiring the electronic data output by theone electronic apparatus from the one electronic apparatus usingshort-range wireless communication, and sends the output request thatthe one electronic apparatus outputs the electronic data to the at leastone information processing apparatus by using the apparatus informationand the identification information, wherein the second apparatusinformation acquiring unit of the second terminal apparatus acquires theapparatus information, the identification information, and the trackinginformation of the electronic data output by the one electronicapparatus from the apparatus information memory device, wherein theacquisition request unit of the second terminal apparatus sends theacquisition request for the electronic data output by the one electronicapparatus to the at least one information processing apparatus by usingthe apparatus information, the identification information, and thetracking information, and acquires the electronic data output by the oneelectronic apparatus from the at least one information processingapparatus, wherein the output request processing unit of the at leastone information processing apparatus causes the apparatus information,the identification information, and the tracking information to bestored in the apparatus information memory device and requests the oneelectronic apparatus to output the electronic data upon the receipt ofthe output request that the one electronic apparatus outputs theelectronic data in a case where the output request processing unitreceives the output request that the one electronic apparatus outputsthe electronic data, wherein the output request processing unit of theat least one information processing apparatus provides the electronicdata output by the one electronic apparatus to the second terminalapparatus based on the apparatus information, the identificationinformation, and the tracking information in a case where the at leastone information processing apparatus receives the acquisition requestfor the electronic data output by the one electronic apparatus.
 5. Theinformation processing system according to claim 1, wherein the memoryunit stores the electronic data in an original data form which is beforebeing changed to a data form capable of being output by the oneelectronic apparatus.
 6. The information processing system according toclaim 1, wherein the request reception unit receives the output requestthat the one electronic apparatus outputs the electronic data andreceives a setup of whether the electronic data is permitted to beprovided to the second terminal apparatus.
 7. The information processingsystem according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus information memorydevice is provided to or built in the one electronic apparatus.
 8. Aninformation processing system comprising: a plurality of terminalapparatuses; a plurality of electronic apparatuses; and at least oneinformation processing apparatus connected to the plurality ofelectronic apparatuses, wherein one electronic apparatus, which is oneof the plurality of electronic apparatuses, includes an apparatusinformation administration unit which administers apparatus information,which is stored in an apparatus information memory device, of oneelectronic apparatus, which is one of the plurality of electronicapparatuses, and provides the apparatus information of the oneelectronic apparatus based on a request from a first terminal apparatus,which is one of the plurality of terminal apparatuses, and an outputunit which receives an output request for electronic data and outputsthe electronic data, wherein the first terminal apparatus includes afirst apparatus information acquiring unit which acquires the apparatusinformation of the one electronic apparatus from the apparatusinformation memory device, and an output request unit which sends anoutput request that the one electronic apparatus outputs the electronicdata to the at least one information processing apparatus by using theapparatus information of the one electronic apparatus, wherein the atleast one information processing apparatus includes a request receptionunit which receives the output request that the one electronic apparatusoutputs the electronic data, a memory unit which stores a storingdestination of the electronic data to be output by the one electronicapparatus and identification information of the one electronic apparatuswhile associating the storing destination and the identificationinformation in response to the output request received by the requestreception unit, an output request processing unit which requests the oneelectronic apparatus to output the electronic data upon receipt of theoutput request that the one electronic apparatus outputs the electronicdata, and an acquisition request processing unit which sends to a secondterminal apparatus, which is another one of the plurality of terminalapparatuses, the electronic data output by the one electronic apparatusbased on the storing destination of the electronic data stored in thememory unit in association with the identification information of theone electronic apparatus in a case where an acquisition request toacquire the electronic data output by the one electronic apparatus isreceived from the second terminal apparatus, wherein the second terminalapparatus includes a second apparatus information acquiring unit whichacquires the apparatus information of the one electronic apparatus fromthe apparatus information memory device, and an acquisition request unitwhich sends the acquisition request for the electronic data output bythe one electronic apparatus to the at least one information processingapparatus and acquires the electronic data output by the one electronicapparatus from the at least one information processing apparatus basedon the apparatus information of the one electronic apparatus.
 9. Aninformation processing apparatus connected to a plurality of terminalapparatuses and a plurality of electronic apparatuses, the informationprocessing apparatus comprising: a request reception unit which receivesan output request that one electronic apparatus, which is one of theplurality of electronic apparatuses, outputs electronic data from afirst terminal apparatus, which is one of the plurality of terminalapparatuses; a memory unit which stores a storing destination of theelectronic data to be output by the one electronic apparatus andidentification information of the one electronic apparatus whileassociating the storing destination and the identification informationin response to the output request received by the request receptionunit; an output request processing unit which requests the oneelectronic apparatus to output the electronic data upon receipt of theoutput request that the one electronic apparatus outputs the electronicdata; and an acquisition request processing unit which sends to a secondterminal apparatus, which is another one of the plurality of terminalapparatuses, the electronic data output by the one electronic apparatusbased on the storing destination of the electronic data stored in thememory unit in association with the identification information of theone electronic apparatus in a case where an acquisition request toacquire the electronic data output by the one electronic apparatus isreceived from the second terminal apparatus.